Genome-wide discovery and verification of novel structured RNAs in Plasmodium falciparum

Tobias Mourier, Celine Carret, Sue Kyes, Zoe Christodoulou, Paul P. Gardner, Daniel C. Jeffares, Robert Pinches, Bart Barrell, Matt Berriman, Sam Griffiths-Jones, Alasdair Ivens, Chris Newbold, Arnab Pain*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

We undertook a genome-wide search for novel noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We used the RNAz program to predict structures in the noncoding regions of the P. falciparum 3D7 genome that were conserved with at least one of seven other Plasmodium spp. genome sequences. By using Northern blot analysis for 76 high-scoring predictions and microarray analysis for the majority of candidates, we have verified the expression of 33 novel ncRNA transcripts including four members of a ncRNA family in the asexual blood stage. These transcripts represent novel structured ncRNAs in P. falciparum and are not represented in any RNA databases. We provide supporting evidence for purifying selection acting on the experimentally verified ncRNAs by comparing the nucleotide substitutions in the predicted ncRNA candidate structures in P. falciparum with the closely related chimp malaria parasite P. reichenowi. The high confirmation rate within a single parasite life cycle stage suggests that many more of the predictions may be expressed in other stages of the organism's life cycle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)281-292
Number of pages12
JournalGenome research
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Genome-wide discovery and verification of novel structured RNAs in Plasmodium falciparum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this